Cumbrian man wins prestigious human rights award (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Cumbrian man wins prestigious human rights award

11:14am Thursday 31st December 2009

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A HOWGILL man has been awarded for his “outstanding commitment” to human rights.

Daniel Carey, 32, won the Peter Duffy Award at the Human Rights Awards for his work on a number of vital judicial review cases.

These include the Baha Mousa Inquiry which is currently investigating the treatment of Iraqi civilians by British troops in custody in Iraq.

Judges said the young lawyer had displayed “unstinting endeavour and an incredible eye for detail.”

Mr Carey was born in Howgill and attended Settlebeck School and Queen Katherine School before studying law at King’s College, London and later working for Peace Brigades International in Guatemala.

He said he first became interested in human rights during his time at the Kendal high school.

“I suppose my Sociology A Level planted the seed about redressing inequalities in society and holding government accountable, which chimed with my own Christian beliefs,” he said.

“Witnessing these struggles first hand in Guatemala for a year really lit a spark for me. Just because we're the world's oldest democracy doesn't mean that we can rest on our laurels.

“It's obviously controversial work, but absolutely necessary.

“Without the Human Rights Act, marginalised people - the people for whom the law may be their only hope - risk being drowned out by majority rule.”

Mr Carey has worked for Birmingham-based firm Public Interest Lawyers for just 18 months and said he was surprised to receive the award.

He said: “The reality is that I'm only just starting out and have benefited from a lot of inspiration and assistance from the people I work with, particularly Phil Shiner at Public Interest Lawyers.

“I think my Mum and my family in Kendal and Howgill are pretty proud, but I'm pretty sure Mum would swap it for less work hours and more phonecalls home.”

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